Device for the promoting and controlling of the circulation of water in water-tube boilers



Get. 2 1923. 1,469,531

' H. C. POWE DEVICE FOR THE PROMOTING AND CONTROLL OF THE CIRCULATION OF WATER IN TER TUB OILER FiledM 1110.1

Patented Oct. 2, 1923.

* UNITED STATES PATENT mm mnr coxn rowan, or LONDON, momma, assronor. TO 'rnomas LEWIS,

or NEW YORK, n. Y.

DEVICE FOR THE PROMOTING AND CONTBOIILIIQG 01' THE CIRCULATION OF WATER i 1H WATER-TUBE BOILERS. 1

Application filed mum in, 1922; Serial in. 542,143.

To all whom it may comm-.- Be it known that I, HENRY Conn Power, a subject of the King of Great Britian and Ireland, and a resident of Catford, in the 5 county and city of London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Promoting and Controllin the Circulation of Water in Water-Tube ilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to so called circulation plugs adapted for insertion in one end of the water tubes of water-tube boilers. In steam boilers of the water-tube type, it is of prime importance that the circulation of the water in all the tubes of the boiler that form the heating and evaporating surface should be maintained in a uniform direction; further the circulation should be as rapid as practically possible; and again, the circulation should not be checked or reversed for it either of these cases happened it is likely that the tubes would become burnt, bent or blistered, or would even probably burst.

The primary object of my invention is to provide-circulation plugs inside one end of each water tube which may be readily inserted and which serve to increase the velocity of the water entering therein, as Well I 39 as to prevent, or reduce the possibility of the reversal of flow of the water in the said tube.

Further objects will appear in the detailed. description. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the plug in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view. Fig. 3 is a front end view. Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal vertical sections showing modifications of the improved device.

The letter A designates the header of a water-tube boiler. A, is a wedgle-sha ed hand-hole plate. The tubesC of t e boi ers are fixed in the tube-plate A The plug D which I claim as my invention is inserte in the head end of the tube C. The plug D as shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a main body and a series of steps D D and D w of res actively decreased cross-sectional area. e inner end of the plug tapers o fi into a round nose-shaped member for the purpose of causing the water passing around tion to the stepped internal passage.

the plug to break ofi gradually. Radial fins, D extend from the body of the plug D. These fins which: preferably have a spiral contour, give the water a. s iral direction around the plug and brea it up into streams so that more of the water will be brought in direct contact with the heating surface of the tubes. ,The plug is further provided with lugs F, that limit the distance which the plug enters'the water tube. Motion of the plug in the opposite direction is limited by the integral tail piece E.

The plug shown in Fig. 4, is a modification of the former in that the water. is caused to pass through the center of the plug rather than around it. The internal diameter of the plug is increased gradually toward the inner end to form a series of conical shaped ste s of increased mean cross-section.

ig. 5, shows a further modification which is combination of the principal features oi the plugs of Figs. 1 and-4:. This modification includes the stepped external in aildit is likewise provided on the periphery with a number of spiral fins. As in the other species the mean cross-section of passa open for flow of water increases gradual y toward the inner end.

It will be noted in view of the above descriptions that the emulsion of water and steam must first enter the restricted passageay left by the plug and consequently acquires a comparatively high entering velocv ity. The fins of the plug break up the flow into a numberof streams and cause them to move in a spiral direction so as to bring all of the water in direct contact with the heating surface of the tube. The steps on the plug serve to gradually increase the area of passage-way for flow into the tube so as to lead to decrease the resistance to flow in that direction. On the other hand they ofier a great resistance to check any tendency of the water to reverse in direction of flow.

It is further noted that for the highest boiler efiiciency the amount of water entering a tube should be just a little more than the tube evaporates, the excess serving to carry ofl any deposit left by the evaporation. The plugs described have been desi ed to accomplish this purpose. 1%

t is understood that further modifications may be e to the structure without departing from the nature and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is 1. A circulation plug for Water tubes of Water-tube boilerscornprising a series of stepped shoulders disposed toward the inner end of said plug and arranged so that the 3. A circulation plug for loosely fitting in the bore of Water tubes comprising a stepped body portion radually diminishing inthickness toward t e inner end of said plug, iins radiatin and proqections from said y for holding the plug in position in said tube.

d. A circulation plug for Water tubes of Water-tube boilers comprising a body portion, a series of integral stepped necks dis posed from said body portion and gradually spirally from the body portionouser diminishin in diameter toward the inner end of sai plug, fins radiating from and dis i on the body of said plug, radial in for limiting the position of the plug within the tube and-an extension for prgventing the plug from moving out of'the to e.

5. A circulation plug comprising a body portion, a series of necks stepped in gradually diminishin diameter toward the innor end of said p ug and tapering off at the end to a rounded nose, spiral fins radiating firorn the surface ofsaid body portion, lugs attached to the outer end of said fins and a longitudinal extension from the outer end of said body portion.

ti. A circulation plug comprising integral members including a body portion, a series of stepped necks at the inner end and a longitudina-l extension from the outer end of said body, tins radiating from said plug and lugs projecting from said fins.

Dated the twenty-second day of'lFebruary of the year nineteen-hundred and twentytwo. I

/ HENRY (30KB PUWEL. Witness:

MARJORIE lFrnrnrNo. 

